Recessed end carton



Nov. 14, 1967 J. H. RACER RECESSED END CARTON 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 5,- 1966 (IA/W55 H RACER,

BY M- ATTORNEYS Nov. 14, 1967 J. H. RACER 3,352,474

RECES SED END CARTON Filed May 5, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JAMES A! 640%,

BY 9m (ma Z2;

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,352,474 RECESSED END CARTON James H. Racer, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to Senco Products, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed May 5, 1%6, Ser. No. 547,854 6 Claims. (Cl. 229-16) ABSTRACT (3F THE DISCLGSURE A one-piece carton structure having recessed end Walls including flap members hingedly connected to the opposite side edges of the end walls, the flap members being juxtaposed to the inner surfaces of the front and rear walls of the structure, the structure including a liftable cover comprising a top wall and an outer front wall, the outer front wall having displaceable tongues engageable in mating sets of slots in the carton front wall and the juxtaposed end wall flaps, there being locking tabs in the rear wall engageable in slots in the end wall flaps underlying the rear wall.

This invention relates to cartons and has to do more particularly with a one-piece recessed end carton structure particularly suited for use as a shipping container.

A principal object of the instant invention is the provision of a carton structure formed from a one-piece blank which, upon erection, provides an extremely strong and rugged container particularly suited for the packaging of heavy commodities.

A further object of the instant invention is the provision of a carton structure having recessed ends which, in effect, provide hand grips by means of which the cartons may be readily lifted. At the same time, the construction of the carton is such that its enclosing wall surfaces remain imperforate so that the interior of the carton is defined by solid walls which are free from perforations or other interruptions.

Still a further object of the instant invention is the provision of a one-piece carton structure of the character described which can be readily opened and reclosed should it be desired to remove and replace the contents and yet the construction of the carton is such that it remains strong and rugged even when opened.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a carton structure of the character described which is completely free from glue seams and does not require the adhesive attachment of the parts. Rather the carton may be erected and parts assembled either by means of integrally formed locking elements or by means of staples or similar fastening means which can be readily applied to marginal edges of the structure without puncturing the interior defining portions of its body walls.

The foregoing together with other objects of the invention which will appear hereinafter or which will be apparent to the skilled worker in the art upon reading this specification, are accomplished by those constructions and arrangements of parts of which certain exemplary embodiments shall now be described.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a cut and scored blank for forming a carton in accordance with the instant invention.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view illustrating the carton blank in partially erected condition.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIGURE 2.

3,352,474 Patented Nov. 14, 1967 FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 2 but with the outer rear Wall of the carton in erected position.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective View of the carton in the fully erected and closed condition.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the locking means in engaged position.

Cartons in accordance with the instant invention will be preferably formed from corrugated boxboard, although other types of boxboard may be employed if so desired. The entire carton structure is formed from an elongated generally rectangular blank cut and scored to provide an outer front wall 1, a top wall 2, an outer rear wall 3, and a bottom wall 4 hingedly connected together in the order named along lines of fold 5, 6, and 7, respectively. An inner front Wall 8 is hingedly connected to the opposite side edge of bottom wall 4 along line of fold 9, with end wall supporting strap members 10 and 11 hingedly connected to the opposite side edge of inner front Wall 8 along marginal lines of fold 12 and 13-. Similarly, an inner rear wall 14 is hingedly connected to the strap members 10 and 11 along marginal lines of fold 15 and is.

A pair of opposing end walls 17 and 18 are hingedly connected to the inner edges of strap members 10 and 11 along hinge lines 19 and 20, respectively, and lie between the inner front and rear walls in the flat blank. The end walls 17 and 18 are provided with front end wall flaps 21 and 22, respectively, struck from contiguous portions of inner rear wall 14, the front end wall flaps being hingedly connected to their respective end walls by lines of fold 23 and 24. Rear end wall flaps 25 and 26 are hingedly connected to the opposite ends of end Wall 17 and 18 along lines of fold 27 and 28, the flaps 25 and 26 being struck from contiguous portions of inner front wall 8. Bottom end wall flaps 29 and 30 are articulated to the bottom edges of end wall 17 and 18 along the lines of fold 31 and 32, respectively.

The blank just described may be assembled by first folding the parts to the condition illustrated in FIGURE 2 wherein it will be seen that the inner front wall 8 has been folded upwardly relative to bottom wall 4, with the strap members 10 and 11 paralleling the bottom wall and inner rear Wall 14 folded downwardly so as to lie just inside the line of fold 7 separating the bottom wall from the outer rear wall 3. In addition, the end walls 17 and 18 have been folded downwardly relative to the strap members 10 and 11, with their sets of end Wall flaps 21, 25, 2?, and 22, 26, 30 infolded so as to be juxtaposed to the inner surfaces of inner front wall 8, inner rear wall 14 and bottom wall 4. In this connection, it will be noted that when the front end wall flaps 21 and 22 are displaced from the plane of inner rear Wall 14, they define cutouts 33 and 34; and similar cutouts 35 and 36 are defined in inner front wall 3, the pairs of cutouts being separated by top wall supporting abutments 37 and 38.

As will be evident from the drawings, the strap members 10 and 11 serve to space the end walls 17 and 18 inwardly with respect to the opposite end edges of the surrounding body walls; and to this end, the front, rear and bottom end wall flaps will preferably be of a width substantially equal to the width of the strap members 10 and 11.

The outer rear wall 3 may then be folded upwardly in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 5 and secured to the inner rear wall 14. Such securement may be accomplished in various ways, inclusive of the use of the integral locking means to be hereinafter described, or by stapling the parts together by means of staples engaging the marginal end edges of the front and rear walls, such staples also passing through the front and rear end wall flaps and the inner rear wall, thereby interconnecting the parts in rigid assembly. Alternatively, the end wall flaps may be adhesively secured to the wall surfaces to which they are juxtaposed, with the outer rear wall 3 adhesively secured to the inner rear wall 14. It is then only necessary to juxtapose top wall 2 to the strap members and 11 and fold outer front wall 1 over inner front wall 8 to complete the assembly of the carton. The top wall 2 will also rest on and be supported by the abutments 37 and 38 which further rigidify the structure. Here again, staples may be used to secure top and outer front Walls in place, as may adhesive, although if it is desired to make the carton readily reopenable, it is preferred-to use the locking meansnow to be described.

Referring again to FIGURE 1, the outer front wall 1 is provided with an inwardly directed pair of locking tongues 39 and 40 struck from the Wall 1 adjacent its opposite ends, the locking tongues being connected to the wall along hinge lines 41 and 42, respectively. Inner front wall 8 is provided with a pair of elongated slots 43 and 44 of a size to receive the locking tongues; and mating slots 45 and 46 are provided in the rear end wall flaps 25 and 26. Thus, when the carton structure is erected to the condition illustrated in FIGURE 5, the slots 43 and 44 will be aligned with the slots 45 and 46, respectively; and when the locking tongues 39 and 40 are deflected inwardly from the plane of outer front Wall 1 and outer front wall 1 folded to the position illustrated in FIGURE 6, the tongues will extend through the mating sets of slots, thereby assuming the position illustrated in FIGURE 7. The locking tonguesmay be in the form of cars as shown or they may be notched to engage beyond the end edges of the slots 45 and 46. If desired, the locking tongues may be folded so as to lie along the inner surfaces of the end wall flaps 25 and 26, whereupon they too may be stapled or otherwise secured to the underlying flaps. Of course, where this is done such fastening means must be removed before the carton can be opened.

It is also within the scope of the invention to provide integral locking means for securing the outer rear wall 3' to the inner rear wall 14 to thereby secure together the body forming parts of the carton. Thus, again referring to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, the outer rear wall 3 may have locking tongues formed therein at its opposite ends, the tongues having central body portions 47 and 48 hingedly connected to the outer rear wall 3 along lines of fold 49 and 50, respectively, each of the body portions having an oppositely directed pair of somewhat shorter wings 51, 52, and 53, 54. The locking tabs just described are adapted to be engaged in slots 55 and 56 formed adjacent the opposite ends of inner rear wall 14; and front end wall flaps 21 and 22 are provided with mating slots 57 and 53. In order to facilitate the insertion of the tabs in the slots, opposing pairs of flaps 59, 60, and 61, 62 are formed in the inner rear wall 1-4, the flaps extending between the slots 57 and 58 and the end edges of the inner rear wall, such flaps acting, when displaced from the plane of the inner end wall, to form passages from the end edges of the inner body wall to the slots 55 and 56 of a size which will readily accept the body portions 47 and 48 of the locking tabs. Similarly, mating sets of flaps 63, 64, and 65, 66 are formed in front end wall flaps 21 and 22, the last named sets of flaps acting, when displaced, to provide ready access to the slots 57 and 58.

As the carton structure is erected, the coacting pairs of flaps may be folded in the manner illustrated in dotted lines in FIGURE 7, wherein it will be seen that the flaps 61 and- 62 have been folded outwardly relative to inner rear wall 14, whereas the mating flaps 65 and 66 in rear end wall flap 22 have been folded inwardly. This permits the body portion 48 of the locking tab to be readily passed between the outfolded pairs of flaps, whereupon the flaps are returned to the position illustrated in solid lines, thereby effectively locking the parts together with the body portion 48 of the locking tab extending through the aligned slots with its Wings 53 and 54 engaging the inner surface of rear end wall flap 22 beyond the ends of the slot.

As should now be apparent, the instant invention provides a one-piece carton structure which may be readily assembled to provide an extremely sturdy and well reinforced receptacle particularly suited for the packaging of heavy articles. By reason of its construction, the interior of the carton is completely free from cuts or openings which would permit dirt or the like to enter the structure; and at the same time the recessed ends of the cartons provide effective gripping means which may be used to lift the carton irrespective of whether it is on its top, bottom or sides. The recessed ends additionally provide attachment areas for inserting the locking tongues and tabs if such are employed, although as has been previously pointed out, the projecting ends of the cartons may be adhesively secured together, or pierced by staples or other fastening means without destroying the imperforate character of the carton body.

It will be evident that modification may be made in the invention without departing from its spirit and purpose; and it is not intended that the invention be limited in any manner other than set forth in the claims which follow. In this connection, it should be understood that the size and relative dimensions of the parts do not constitute a limitation on the invention, and it is to be understood that the use of terms such as top wall, bottom wall, front wall, rear wall, and end walls are intended as relative terms to characterize the relationship of the parts to each other rather than with reference to the dimensions of any specific carton structure. If so desired the top wall and outer front wall may be omitted, thereby providing a sturdy open top receptacle which may be used as such with or without a separate cover or top closure. In such event it is preferred to staple or otherwise permanently affix the end wall flaps to the body walls which they contact. In addition, the open top structure may be readily converted into a produce basket or the like by aflixing a handle strap or bail thereto, such bail preferably extending between the opposing abutments 37 and 38.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A one-piece carton structure comprising a bottom wall, front and rear wall projecting upwardly from the opposite side edges of said bottom Wall, a pair of strap members projecting rearwardly from the upper edge of said front wall at the opposite ends thereof, a second rear wall connected along its upper edge to the opposite ends of said strap members and projecting downwardly therefrom, said second rear wall being juxtaposed to the inner surface of said first named rear wall, a top wall connected to the upper edge of said first named rear Wall and an outer front wall connected to the opposite side edge of said top Wall, end walls connected to the inner side edges of said strap members, said inner end walls projecting downwardly from said strap members and spaced inwardly from the end of said front, rear, and bottom walls by adistance substantially equal to the width of said strapmembers, flap members hingedly connected to the opposite side edges of said end walls, said flap members being struck from adjoining areas of the front wall and the second rear wall of the carton, said flap membersprojecting outwardly toward the adjacent ends of said front and rear walls and juxtaposed to the inner surfaces thereof, and attachment means securing said flaps to the wall surfaces to which they are juxtaposed, said attachment means comprising displaceable tongues formed in said outer front wall adjacent the opposite ends thereof, said first named front wall and the end flaps juxtaposed thereto having mating tongue receiving slots formed therein, whereby said flaps may be secured to the wall surfaces to which they are juxtaposed.

2. The carton structure claimed in claim 1 wherein a top wall is connected to the upper edge of said rear wall, and an outer front wall is connected to the opposite side edge of said top wall, and wherein said attachment means comprises displaceable tongues formed in said outer front wall adjacent the opposite ends thereof, said first named front wall and the end wall flaps juxtaposed thereto having mating tongue receiving slots formed therein.

3. The carton structure claimed in claim 1 wherein said attachment includes locking tabs formed in said first named rear wall at the opposite ends thereof, and wherein said second rear wall and the end wall flaps juxtaposed thereto have mating tongue receiving slots therein.

4. The carton structure claimed in claim 3 wherein said locking tabs each comprises a central body portion hingedly connected to said first named rear wall and a pair of foldable wings projecting outwardly from the opposite sides of said central body portion, and wherein an opposing pair of flaps extends between each of said slots and the adjoining edge of the wall or end wall flaps in which said slots are formed, said opposing pairs of flaps being foldable relative to the wall or end wall flap in which they are formed to define passages so that the central body portions of the coacting locking tabs may be passed therethrough for engagement in the contiguous slots, whereupon the said opposing pairs of flaps may be returned to their initial positions to lock said tabs in place with the wings thereof projecting beyond the opposite ends of the slots.

5. A recessed end carton structure formed from a onepiece blank comprising an outer front wall panel, a top Wall panel, a rear wall panel, i3, bottom wall panel, and an inner front wall panel in side-by-side articulation in the order named, a pair of strap members hingedly connected to the opposite side edge of said inner front Wall panel at the opposite ends thereof, and an inner rear wall panel hingedly connected to the opposite ends of said strap members, end wall panels hingedly connected to the innermost side edges of said strap members and projecting inwardly therefrom, end wall flaps hingedly connected to the opposite ends of said end wall panels, said end wall flaps being struck from adjoining portions of said inner front and rear walls, bottom flaps hingedly connected to the innermost side edges of said end wall panels, said end wall flaps and said bottom flaps each having a width substantially equal to the width of said strap members, locking tabs formed in said outer front Wall panel adjacent the opposite end edges thereof, and mating tongue receiving slots formed in said inner front wall and in the end wall flaps formed in said inner front wall panel.

6. The carton blank claimed in claim 5 including locking tabs formed in said outer rear wall panel at the opposite ends thereof, and mating tab receiving slots formed in said inner rear wall panel and in the adjoining end wall flaps.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 19,028 12/1933 Sugerman 22929 2,076,844 4/1937 Holmes 22929 2,640,589 6/1953 Foster et el. 22928 X 2,907,510 10/1959 Vines 22937 X 3,009,623 11/1961 Wenzel 22928 3,170,615 2/1965 Mortenson 22916 DONALD F. NORTON, Primary Examiner.

DAVIS T. MOORHEAD, Examiner. 

1. A ONE-PIECE CARTON STRUCTURE COMPRISNG A BOTTOM WALL, FRONT AND REAR WALL PROJECTING UPWARDLY FROM THE OPPOSITE SIDE EDGES OF SAID BOTTOM WALL, A PAIR OF STRAP MEMBERS PROJECTING REARWARDLY FROM THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID FRONT WALL AT THE OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF, A SECOND REAR WALL CONNECTED ALONG ITS UPPER EDGE TO THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID STRAP MEMBERS AND PROJECTING DOWNWARDLY THEREFROM, SAID SECOND REAR WALL BEING JUXTAPOSED TO THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID FIRST NAMED REAR WALL, A TOP WALL CONNECTED TO THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID FIRST NAMED REAR WALL AND AN OUTER FRONT WALL CONNECTED TO THE OPPOSITE SIDE EDGE OF SAID TOP WALL, END WALLS CONNECTED TO THE INNER SIDE EDGES OF SAID STRAP MEMBERS, SAID INNER END WALLS PRROJECTING DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID STRAP MEMBERS AND SPACED INWARDLY FROM THE END OF SAID FRONT, REAR, AND BOTTOM WALLS BY A DISTANCE SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE WIDTH OF SAID STRAP MEMBERS, FLAP MEMBERS HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO THE OPPOSITE SIDE EDGES OF SAID END WALLS, SAID FLAP MEMBERS BEING STRUCK FROM ADJOINING AREAS OF THE FRONT WALL AND THE SECOND REAR WALL OF THE CARTON, SAID FLAP MEMBERS PROJECTING OUTWARDLY TOWARD THE ADJACENT ENDS OF SAID FRONT AND REAR WALLS AND JUXTAPOSED TO THE INNER SURFACE THEREOF, SAID ATTACHMENT MEANS SECURING SAID FLAPS TO THE WALL SURFACES O WHICH THEY ARE JUXTAPOSED, SAID ATTACHMENT MEANS COMPRISING DISPLACEABLE TONGUE FORMED IN SAID OUTER FRONT WALL ADJACNET THE OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF, SAID FIRST NAMED FRONT WALL AND THE END FLAPS JUXTPOSED THERETO HAVING MATING TONGUE RECEIVING SLOTS FORMED THEREIN, WHEREBY SAID FLAPS MAY BE SECURED TO THE WALL SURFACES TO WHICH THEY ARE JUXTAPOSED. 